Trio of Canadian First Nations Partnering for Envisioned Manitoba Casino

In the western Canadian province of Manitoba and a trio of First Nations have inked a memorandum of understanding so as to work towards bringing a new tribal land-based casino to land situated along the busy Trans-Canada Highway.

The Sioux Valley Dakota Nation has united with the Canupawakpa Dakota First Nation and the Dakota Plains First Nation in hopes of being given permission to construct a gambling-friendly facility on land it owns some 24 miles west of the city of Brandon. 

The threesome told the Winnipeg Free Press such a project could create a new economic base for their communities and greatly enhance local youth employment opportunities.

Shared Interest

The Chief of the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation, Vince Tacan, revealed the trio are now hoping to site their envisioned casino alongside an existing Petro-Canada station at the junction of the Trans-Canada Highway with Provincial Trunk Highway 21. The leader revealed the agreement gives his tribe a 34% share in any such future enterprise with the remaining stake being evenly split between the Canupawakpa Dakota First Nation and the Dakota Plains First Nation.

Tacan detailed the Sioux Valley Dakota Nation is to now be responsible for all coming license, feasibility and logistical negotiations while the Canupawakpa Dakota First Nation and the Dakota Plains First Nation are to provide political, financial and human resources support. 

Continuing Conversations

The Sioux Valley Dakota Nation explained it now intends to develop a feasibility study for the planned casino (in an area where online casino sites are yet to legalise) while working with provincial authorities such as the Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation in order to obtain the required gaming licence. The trio of Westman First Nations tribes intends to meet in a few weeks to discuss the matter further and will additionally have to ink unanimous shareholder agreements governing the setup and running of the planned enterprise.

“We look forward to receiving this proposal and to continue our ongoing conversations with a number of stakeholders from across Manitoba,” read a statement from the province’s Minister of Sport, Culture, Heritage and Tourism, Glen Simard.

Appealing Affiliation

Chief Raymond Brown of Canupawakpa Dakota First Nation said he is excited for what a casino could mean for his community ‘as Dakota people don’t have much of anything’ while the Chief of the Dakota Plains First Nation, Don Smoke, believes the new partnership will help the envisioned project in becoming a success.

“We’ve tried everything we could out here within our own area,” Smoke said. “However, our market is just not there, our traffic is not there. We don’t have enough people in the area to benefit from economic development so partnerships are the key for us.”